M0004077: Two Netsuke, Japan

Previous title, replaced May 2020: Facial bone fashioned from skull, signed Kokusai

Photograph of two Netsuke, ornaments worn with a Kimono. The Netsuke is tied a silk bag hidden behind the sash for belongings. They were especially popular during the Tokugawa period (1603–1868) and are seen by many as fine works of miniature art. One is made from human bone, showing the facial part of a skull, signed Kokusai. The other is made of ivory and shows a doctor feeling the pulse of a Japanese lady. These Netsuke are from Doctor Hermann Gunther's collection of Netsuke. The original objects can be found at the History of Science Museum under the inventory numbers 33370 and 34936. Only the skull Netsuke has been digitised.

24 October 1934

1 photograph glass plate negative; 12 x 16 cm

Catalogue data comes from a combination of entries in the original glass plate registers, metadata created when the glass plates were digitised in the early 2000s and enhancements made by the cataloguer in 2021.

Please consult the digitised version as this item is fragile. Email library@wellcomecollection.org to request access to the physical item.